Medical marijuana does ease multiple sclerosis symptoms

On Saturday the Washington Senate passed a bill that addresses some of the concerns that patients have about new restrictions on medical marijuana. Senate Bill 5887, introduced by Republican Senator Ann Rivers, is substantially more permissive than...

The researchers did comparisons between all known alternative therapies and medical marijuana pills and oral medical marijuana spray and found that medical marijuana was the only treatment that relieved symptoms of spasticity, pain related to spasticity and frequent urination in multiple sclerosis. The researchers compared the efficacy of ginkgo biloba, magnetic therapy, bee sting therapy, omega-3 fatty acids, and reflexology to marijuana. Dronabinol and nabilone are synthetic forms of key ingredients in marijuana that have been approved by the FDA.

The researchers do not know if marijuana accomplishes symptom relief for multiple sclerosis on its own or enhances the effects of commonly used multiple sclerosis drugs.

The scientists do note that the use of marijuana in some people may promote depression. Depression is a common symptom in multiple sclerosis. The combination of two depressive factors could result in a higher potential for suicide.

No researcher longer than 15 weeks has determined the long-term effects of marijuana therapy for any disease to date.